The
principal position at Pueblo is the only one still open, and it is expected
to be filled sometime later this month.

Schauer said the average turnover rate
for Kyrene principal positions averages two to three per year.Having seven principals leave in the same year, he added, is
“unusual.”

“It’s a little high for the
district,” Schauer said. “It’s due to a combination of factors. There
have been a lot of retirements, which fits the nationwide forecast for
increasing retirees.”

Other reasons for principals leaving the
district include relocation and personal reasons. However, Schauer said no
matter what the cause, the school district is prepared to fill the
positions.

Increasing retirement for the baby-boom
generation is also expected to affect teacher positions.

To help alleviate the problem, the
district participates in a nationwide advertising campaign through the
Morrison Institute to reach qualified candidates in addition to national and
local recruitment fairs.

However, the school mostly selects its
new principals from the existing pool of talent within the Kyrene system.

“We have a big focus on growing our
own talent,” Schauer said. “We really look to providing our own training
and support.”

In fact, three of the six newly hired
principals are from within the Kyrene district. Kyrene de la Cerritos’ new
principal, Janet Thor, served as assistant principal at Kyrene del Cielo;
Colina Principal Cheryl Green was assistant director of supplemental student
services and Mirada Principal Donna Gallagher was assistant principal at
Kyrene Middle School.

Rita Martinez, who held a position at an
elementary school in Albuquerque, N.M., will be the new principal at Sureño,
and Spencer Fallgatter, an elementary school principal in Tucson, will new
be the principal at del Norte.

Schauer added that the district tries to
integrate the principals before the end of the previous school year in order
to make connections with staff and parents.

One of the most difficult challenges a
principal has, Schauer said, is dealing with so many interests.

“The principal’s position is really
the hardest in education. They have to work with the students, parents,
teachers and administrators,” Schauer said.

“They really get it from all sides.”

Of course, principals also have to
prepare the school for standardize testing.

Although the school might be undergoing
a transition with a new principal, Schauer said the school’s teachers and
staff understand and work hard to achieve each school’s testing goals.

“With accountability in the field, we
are constantly looking at how to improve achievement with student scores,
but it’s a huge challenge,” Schauer said.

Having the new principal meet with the
outgoing principal and staff is only half of the process. New principals
must also forge alliances with parents and the Parent Teacher Organization,
get up to speed with governance policies, personnel issues, curriculum and
teacher support and evaluation programs.

“It’s a lot, but we have people that
step forward and make it work,” Schauer said.